Public
Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education
York, Pennsylvania
92.2% Acceptance Rate
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
92.2%Acceptance Rate
1170Avg SAT
$26,812Annual Cost
$63,435Grad Salary
27.9%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
92.2%
Avg SAT
1170
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
1070–1270
Avg Net Price
$18,922
Need-Based Aid
27.9% receive Pell
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York, established in 1926, blends small-campus intimacy with the prestige of a Big Ten institution. Situated in York, Pennsylvania, it offers modern engineering labs, a performing arts center, and strong industry partnerships.
Recognized for value and transfer opportunities, York prepares students for careers in tech, business, and healthcare, with seamless transitions to Penn State's main campus and a focus on applied learning.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York Acceptance Rate
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York (Penn State) runs an open-access admission policy — with a 92.2% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 92.2% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline, though the priority deadline of November 1 is recommended for the best chances of admission and financial aid.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 98 days left — Priority Freshman
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
Penn State reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
Priority Freshman
November 1
Decision by: December 24
💡 The scholarship deadline (November 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Check Your Admission Chances at Penn State
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York's verified institutional data
--%
Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York (Penn State) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Penn State is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Penn State Without SAT or ACT?
Penn State considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt — most applicants test 2–3 times.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York Average SAT Score: 1170
The average SAT score of admitted students at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York is 1170 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1170 — Less Competitive
This average is slightly below the national mean SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1270 SAT) to stand out. Below average? Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1070, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Penn State. Retaking multiple times is completely normal — most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 590 | 540 | 640 |
| SAT Reading | 580 | 530 | 630 |
| SAT Composite | 1170 | 1070 | 1270 |
Below 1070, you're behind most admitted students; at 1270 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1150
Can I get into Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York (Penn State) with a 1250 SAT?
A 1250 SAT puts you ahead of most of Penn State's admitted class — but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Penn State
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Penn State's open-access model means the real strategic decisions happen after enrollment: course planning, advising, and whether to transfer later.
Do not target York for fall 2026 or later - redirect immediately
Following a May 2025 Board of Trustees vote (25?8), Penn State York is one of seven Commonwealth Campuses (with DuBois, Fayette, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Shenango, and Wilkes-Barre) that stopped accepting new and transfer students after the fall 2025 term, with full closure after spring 2027. Any current-cycle applicant interested in York needs to be redirected now to one of the 13 campuses receiving continued investment (Abington, Altoona, Beaver, Behrend, Berks, Brandywine, Great Valley, Greater Allegheny, Harrisburg, Hazleton, Lehigh Valley, Schuylkill, Scranton) or to Penn State World Campus.
For students already enrolled at York, use the 2+2 Plan proactively
Penn State's own transition pathway lets a bachelor's-track student who started at a closing campus transfer to another Commonwealth Campus at the end of 2026-27 without losing progress, and a tuition-difference grant is available for up to three years to offset cost changes. Families should ask their academic adviser now which receiving campus has capacity in their specific major, rather than waiting until closer to the transition deadline when seats may be tighter.
For Penn State applications generally, don't skip the "optional" essay
Penn State dropped the mandatory supplemental essay for the 2025-26 cycle - only the Common App personal statement is required - but with 100,000+ applications and a heavily transcript-driven review process, the optional Penn State-specific writing prompt is disproportionately useful for borderline applicants precisely because so few will bother completing it. This applies to applications aimed at any surviving Penn State campus, not York.
Budget separately for Schreyer Honors College if relevant
Students targeting Schreyer Honors College at any continuing Penn State campus should treat it as a distinct application layer with its own required supplemental essays and deadlines, separate from the standard Penn State application - this shouldn't be an afterthought added in the final week.
Expert Insight:
The single most important warning for this row: any admissions guidance that still treats Penn State York as a normal application target for fall 2026 or later is now factually incorrect and could send a student toward a dead end. Confirm current status directly at york.psu.edu/admission or roadmap.psu.edu before advising any student toward this specific campus - the closure is real, board-approved, and already in its transition phase as of mid-2026.
Penn State Profile
Full Name
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York (Penn State)
City
York
State
Pennsylvania
ZIP Code
17403-3326
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)
Is a Penn State Degree Worth It?
Whether Penn State is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals — here's the data to weigh it against.
The average household income among admitted students is $63,400, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.15%.
How much does a degree from Penn State Cost?
The sticker price is $26,812/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is closer to $18,922.
27.9% of students receive a Pell Grant and 49% take federal loans at Penn State — file your FAFSA early and list Penn State as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Penn State Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $63,435 — about 56% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery, AL | 1148 | 23 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | 1121 | 22 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, CO | 1140 | 25 |
| Western Colorado University | Gunnison, CO | 1130 | 25 |
| Lynn University | Boca Raton, FL | 1136 | 25 |
| Florida International University | Miami, FL | 1154 | 23 |
| University of West Florida | Pensacola, FL | 1137 | 24 |
| Georgia College & State University | Milledgeville, GA | 1150 | 24 |
| Georgia State University | Atlanta, GA | 1149 | 23 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| Savannah College of Art and Design | Savannah, GA | 1178 | 25 |
| Hawaii Pacific University | Honolulu, HI | 1180 | 25 |
| The College of Idaho | Caldwell, ID | 1166 | 24 |
| North Central College | Naperville, IL | 1165 | 25 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Mobile | Mobile, AL | 1220 | 24 |
| Samford University | Birmingham, AL | 1203 | 26 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 1222 | 26 |
| Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia, AR | 1212 | 25 |
| California Lutheran University | Thousand Oaks, CA | 1224 | 26 |
Degree Programs at Penn State
Bachelor Degree Programs
Masters Degree Programs
Associate Degree Programs
UG Certificate or Diploma Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Penn State Admissions
Median graduate earnings at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York run about $63,435 a year.
At about $26,812 a year, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York is on the more affordable end.
About 27.9% receive a Pell Grant at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York — moderate odds, largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 92.2%, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
A strong SAT score matters at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York — aim above 1170, ideally within the 1070–1270 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York is November 1. Admission decisions are released by December 24. Rolling Admissions is also offered, so applying early improves your chances.
The application fee is 65. Fee waivers may be available — check with admissions.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is November 1, 2026. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes — transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most — along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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